Deb and Jay
Deb and Jay moved to Strode Independent Living from their home, a 106-year old family farm Deb was born and raised on, in Norwich, Vermont.
To say they’re an active couple would be an understatement.
Before moving to Morgan Orchards, Jay had served in the U.S. Army, been a dairy farmer, and was a USPS rural route carrier. He’s also hayed, selling bales for feed, and organized a compost business. Outside of the farming world, Jay’s been very involved with his local community and church. He was even named the Norwich “Citizen of the Year” in 2018.
Not to be outdone, his wife Deb was a physical therapist who worked at Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital and the VA Medical Center in White River Junction. She also helped with the family farm, and managed large vegetable and several flower gardens. Within the community, she’s been active on the Board of Civil Authority, the historical society, the Norwich Public Library Board, the Conservation Committee, and a life-long member of her church.
But sometimes, life asks you to slow down, which is what happened with Deb and Jay.
Hear more on why Deb and Jay chose Strode in this video interview:
As they both developed health issues, they discovered that managing the responsibility of farm work was becoming more and more of a challenge and adding more stress to their lives. So they decided it was time for a change and looked at moving to an independent living community. In fact, the only place they looked was Strode Independent Living.
“We fell in love with Morgan Orchards on our first visit,” the couple shared. “We both loved the rural character. We loved the setting, and the staff and residents that we met. It really felt like a new home and life for us.”
Jay now drives one of the town’s school buses
And now that they’ve settled into their apartment, Deb and Jay say they both have less physical toil and frustration. Overall, they’re much more relaxed and are enjoying their new lifestyle, even as they continue to transition away from their farm life and responsibilities.
Not that moving to independent living has slowed them down.
The couple has quickly integrated themselves into the community. In fact, Jay now volunteers at the Randolph Center Fire Department, drives one of the town school buses, and even helps with packing bunk at a local farm. At home, Jay spends time in the alcove near their apartment working on puzzles with his neighbor.
For those considering a move to independent living, Deb says: “Come for a visit! This is a lovely location, there are amazing views, excellent staff, comfortable apartments, and easy access to the great outdoors.”
[box title=”Looking to embrace a more relaxed lifestyle?” bg_color=”#dbf3f1″ align=”left”]Independent living is about more than downsizing. It’s about swapping tiresome property upkeep so you can do more of what you love and create a new, more relaxed lifestyle.
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